Ruy Lopez Opening Tactics

The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5

It is a favourite opening of World Champion, Gary Kasparov, Former Champion, Bobby Fischer and British Grandmaster, Nigel Short.

3...a6
4. Ba4 Nf6, the variation is called Morphy Defence (C77), after
5. O-O Be7, the variation is called Closed System (C84) and after
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O
9. h3 Be6 the variation is called Kholmov Variation (C92).Enjoy!

Black may continue in various ways:
Classical Defence
3.... Bc5
4.c3 Nf6
5.0-0 0-0
6.d4 Bb6
7.Re1 d6
8.Bg5

Berlin Defence
3.... Nf6
4.0-0 Nxe4
5.d4 Be7
6.Qe2 Nd6
7.Bxc6 bxc6
8.dxe5 Nb7
9.Nc3 0-0

Steinitz Defence
3... d6
4.d4 Bd7
5.Nc3 Nf6
6.0-0 Be7
7.Re1 exd4
8.Nxd4 0-0

Schliemann Defence/Jaenisch Gambit
3... f5
4.Nc3 fxe4
5.Nxe4 d5
6.Nxe5 dxe4
7.Nxc6 Qg5

Modern Steinitz
3...a6
4.Ba4 d6
5.c3 Bd7
6.d4 Nge7
7.0-0 Ng6

Open Defence
3...a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0-0 Nxe4
6.d4 b5
7.Bb3 d5
8.dxe5 Be6

Closed Defence
3...a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0-0 Be7
6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 d6
8.c3 0-0

Marshall Attack
3...a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0-0 Be7
6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 0-0
8.c3 d5
9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5
11.Rxe5 c6

Smyslov Defence
3...g6
4. c3 a6
5. Ba4 d6
6. d4 Bd7
7. 0-0 Bg7

Bird's Defence
3...Nd4
4. Nxd4 exd4
5. 0-0 Bc5
6. d3 c6
7. Ba4 Ne7

Cozio Defence
3...Nge7
4. 0-0 g6
5. c3 Bg7
6. d4 exd4
7. cxd4 d5

Arkhangelsk Variation
3...a6
4. Ba4 Nf6,
5. O-O b5
6. Bb3 Bb7;
7. Re1 Bc5
8. c3 Ng4
9. d4 exd4
10. h3 Nxd4;
11. Nxd4 Qh4;
12. Nf3 Qxf2+;
13. Kh1 Qg1+;
14. Rxg1 Nf2++Mate.
This might catch some players out. If white played 12. h3 instead then black gets an advantage after 12....Qxf2+; 13. Kh1 Bxd4; and white can't take the knight with the pawn because 14. hxg4 Qh4++; is mate.